Biography: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is a band best described by how it got its name. There is emotional intensity, jumping around, and, ultimately, redemption. Edward Sharpe is not the name of the shirtless wookie-looking lead singer. His name is Alexander Ebert. Since 1998, Alex has been the lead singer of LA's pop-punk group, Ima Robot. A few years after joining Ima Robot, Alex broke up with his girlfriend, joined Alcoholics Anonymous, moved in with his best friend, and started a book about the fictitious Edward Sharpe (who, "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind...but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love"). While writing his messiah-led novel, Alex frequented Little Pedro's Blue Bongo Room in downtown LA. In 2007, Alex met the beautiful Jade Castrinos on a bench outside Little Pedro's, fell in love, and began a beautiful relationship of singing and song-writing. They quickly formed a band and released Up From Below with Vagrant Records on July 7, 2009, which includes popular hits "40 Day Dream", "Janglin", and the song everyone will sing along to, "Home". Since its formation, the band is known for touring frequently, especially at festivals. ES&TMZ have one other album, Here, which was released in 2012.

Before starting Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Alex and Jade were part of the music and art group, "The Masses", which was funded by Heath Ledger

Played on a Friday in The Other Tent at Bonnaroo 2011

Joined Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show on the Railroad Revivial Tour in 2011. The Grammy-winning documentary "Big Easy Express" (available on iTunes) was based on the Tour.

The band is known for touring the country in a white school bus

Guaranteed to play live: Janglin', 40 Day Dream, Home, Up From Below, Om Nashi Me, Carries On

Personal Take:Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are what happens when you give percussion instruments to talented musicians living in a hippy commune for 6 years. The most recent time I saw them was at a standing only venue. Alex closed the show in crowd center with his mic and asked everyone to take a seat around him, like a prayer circle. For 4+ minutes, the place was serene. No one pushed through to get a better view. There wasn't a conversation being yelled over the music. And not a cellphone was in the air recording the "OMG!!" moment. Take a minute during their set to close your eyes, bob your head, and sway to the horns burping with the piano tinging with the tambourine chinging with the bass humming with the voices harmonizing with the violins singing. Lastly, almost everyone knows their song "Home". Enjoy it live. There is an interlude during which Jade and Alex(ander) share random loving sentiments. After that, the excitement builds, and everyone bounces up and down, Alex included, with a bright smile to Jade shrieking, "Al-A-Ba-Ma, Ar-Kan-Saw. The whole experience of seeing ES&TMZ is just like that: happy, soulful, and harmonious.

Post by lukescrazyarms on Mar 25, 2013 15:59:25 GMT -5

Not gonna lie I'm super excited for this show. I have a feeling its going to be a massacre of conflicts with the National, Tame Impala, and DB&SV but I don't think I'll be missing their show. Looks like a super happy fun time

Post by Outlier on May 2, 2013 21:33:53 GMT -5

I think what I love most about them is how happy they seem to be. When you watch them perform live, you can tell that they are loving what they are doing. I think that when seeing them in person, that happiness is going to be infectious and make for an awesome experience!